[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 40353-40354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20354]



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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7110--National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 1998



Proclamation 7111--Parents' Day, 1998
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 / Tuesday, July 28, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 40353]]

                Proclamation 7110 of July 24, 1998

                
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In 1950, the thoughts of most Americans were far from 
                war. With the recent end of World War II and economic 
                recovery in full swing, the American people had resumed 
                their everyday lives--going back to school, starting 
                new jobs, and raising their families. But the tenor of 
                the times changed suddenly and dramatically that 
                summer, as communist North Korea crossed the 38th 
                Parallel to invade its free neighbor to the south.

                Once again, the world watched to see if the right of 
                self-determination would prevail in the face of 
                aggression, and once again Americans answered the call 
                to serve. A United Nations force--spearheaded by U.S. 
                air, sea, and ground troops and under a unified command 
                headed by the United States--rushed to the support of 
                South Korea. In the following 38 months, Inchon, the 
                Chosin Reservoir, the Yalu River, and a hundred other 
                locales indelibly etched into the memory of our Korean 
                War veterans were added to the long list of places 
                where Americans have fought and died for freedom. The 
                fighting was brutal; the toll in injuries, lives lost, 
                and those missing in action was heavy. But American 
                forces, fighting side by side with South Koreans and 
                our U.N. allies, halted communist aggression, preserved 
                the Republic of Korea, and won a victory for democratic 
                peoples everywhere.

                Yet, for many years, these important achievements and 
                the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of our forces 
                in Korea received little recognition. For too long, 
                overshadowed by the broad dimensions of World War II 
                and the complexities of the Vietnam War, the Korean 
                conflict seemed to be America's forgotten victory.

                But in 1995, with the dedication of the Korean War 
                Veterans Memorial in our Nation's capital, America 
                finally paid fitting tribute to those brave Americans 
                whose devotion to duty wrote a crucial chapter in 
                freedom's history and whose valor and determination in 
                battle laid the foundation for our Nation's ultimate 
                triumph in the Cold War. With its haunting column of 
                determined troops, the Memorial has the power to evoke 
                strong memories within those who served. But it serves 
                another enduring purpose: to teach future generations 
                about America's heroes, the depth of their sacrifice, 
                and the historic contributions they made to the cause 
                of peace and freedom.

                The Congress, by Public Law 104-19 (36 U.S.C. 169m), 
                has designated July 27, 1998, as ``National Korean War 
                Veterans Armistice Day'' and has authorized and 
                requested the President to issue a proclamation in 
                observance of this day.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 27, 
                1998, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I 
                call upon all Americans to observe this day with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and 
                give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans. I 
                also ask Federal departments and agencies, interested 
                groups, organizations, and individuals to fly the flag 
                of the United States at half-staff on July 27, 1998, in 
                memory of the Americans who died as a result of their 
                service in Korea.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-eight, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-third.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 98-20354
Filed 7-27-98; 10:51 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P